ROBERT MORRIS AND REPORTING FOR THE TREASURY UNDER THE U.S. CONTINENTAL CONGRESS

This paper examines the accounting and reporting practices established by Robert Morris during his term as Superintendent of Finance under the Continental Congress from 1781 to 1784. Generally known as the financier of the American Revolution, Morris enacted many important accounting reforms, including his rearrangement of the Treasury to speed the settlement of accounts and the establishment of Continental receivers to collect money from the states. His most important contribution was the preparation of annual statements of receipts and expenditures of public money of the Confederation government. These statements, along with a detailed account on money received from the individual states, were circulated to put pressure on the states to meet their tax quotas. Several of these accounts are reproduced as exhibits in this paper.